The Big One: Preseason Top 200
Heading into the scouting season, who are the players we have our eye on most?
Quick hitters, snap judgments and skimming the surface on 200 prospects? At one time? That can't happen, can it?
We're certainly going to try. I'm a big believer in accountability through the draft process. I like to be open with my thoughts and use this as a benchmark to go back and compare later as to how I was viewing guys ahead of their season. When done right, looking back and analyzing your takes can be incredibly powerful in sifting through the noise in future years.
So we're going to dive into a massive project here on 200 players, giving thoughts on how they grade out in our minds and where they project going into the season. While I advocate for accountability and transparency, I also don't believe in a firm rankings system, especially one this deep. In wrestling with the best way to provide depth of content without arbitrarily ranking every prospect, we decided to break our project up into sections based on each prospect's ideal position or role.
You'll see guards who are more scorers, off-ball threats, defenders or classic point guards. You'll see prospects we are really high on, those who are mentioned in many places but we aren't high on and some who we have our eye on but likely aren't ready just yet for the pros.
Defensive-Minded Guards
Players in this tier: 6
Posh Alexander - PG, St. John's
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Not a very good shooter but is getting better; quick and strong enough to score and create anyway in the college game; really efficient finisher who initiates contact; unreal competitor on the defensive end; 2.3 STL as a freshman in Big East aided by full-court pressing; impossible to get past 1v1 on an island; not sure he's big enough or skilled offensively for the pros but there's NYC grittiness there not to overlook.
Avery Anderson - CG, Oklahoma State
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Could take over lead guard role with Cowboys now that Cade is gone; wasn't very well-suited for off-ball role but shot it better as soph (32%) than fresh (2-26); really good on-ball defender; competitive and rarely takes a possession off; came on late in the season offensively and got to FT line a lot; got much better as last season went on in terms of scoring; if the offensive package continues to come along, he should be a pro.
Reece Beekman - PG, Virginia
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Low-volume offensive threat as FY with major statistical defensive impact; really sound positionally in an off-ball setting; solid length helps him on-ball; loves to be a pest and apply pressure far from the rim; good creator for others who rarely turns it over; needs to find consistency in his jumper -- has a bit of a hunch and forward lean; much more a floor general than a scorer on offense; likely not someone to get drafted but when he declares could force his way onto NBA team a la TJ McConnell; worth tracking in the future.
Davonte Davis - PG, Arkansas
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Low-volume offensive point guard who is very good on the defensive end; excellent ball handler with beautiful quick-twitch athleticism; decent finisher around the rim; all-out energy player on defense in a way that fuels him in transition; long arms and quick hands is a lethal combo; young enough as rising Sophomore to fuel his way into draft talk; horrid year shooting the ball as a freshman -- needs to raise his shooting floor; 2nd round prospect.
Eli Parquet - CG, Colorado
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Defensive-minded guard who played offensive second-fiddle to McKinley Wright; added role with ball in his hands could show pro skill upside; greatly improved 3pt. threat who shot over 40% last year; grades out analytically as one of best defenders in NCAA; supremely good anticipation skills as helper; blocks lots of shots for a guard; if he is competent with ball in his hands, might be an Exhibit-10 name to watch.
Jayson Tchicamboud - PG, Strasborg
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Really passionate player who is dominant on-ball defender at times; lefty is a set shooter from perimeter and doesn't make them (20.3% on 64 attempts last year); went 7-12 from 3 in FIBA U-19 World Cup for France that opened up his potential to be an NBA prospect; good facilitator but worry that his lack of scoring or shooting will handicap that in crunch time; name worth tracking through the future.
Combo Guards: Off-Ball Guys
Players in this tier: 8
Hugo Besson - CG, NZ Breakers
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Massive end to Pro-B season vaulted his stock; 6'3" guard can really score while being balanced in other areas; really good in a spot-up or movement shooting role; a tad square at times off screens but he makes them consistently; really good hands on defense -- should be able to guard 1s and 2s; another year in physical league will see how he handles finishing and creating his own shot... if both go well, he might be closer to a 1st round pick than undrafted.
Eli Brooks - CG, Michigan
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: 5th year senior perfect college glue guy who does a bit of everything; really good defender vs. specialty shooters and high-movement players; super undersized at 6'1" to be a 2-guard in the NBA; improved 3-pt. threat over each year at Michigan getting up to 39% as senior; guy who rarely makes mistakes on offense and can create for others; haven't seen a ton of lead creation to believe he's an NBA-caliber point guard; intangible guy who has heavy impact on winning and could be a G-League darling who does the little things to earn a coach's respect.
Noam Dovrat - CG, Rishon-Le Zion
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Has a real fiery part to his game; can be a 6'5" lead guard but the combination of on-ball skills and off-ball impact at his size makes him versatile; has been put in a lot of movement out of PNR which is great for a secondary creator; crafty passer and finisher to make up for lack of elite vertical pop; coming off breakout season shooting 38% from 3; really worry about his defense precluding him from NBA level of play but there's competitiveness and offensive skill worth monitoring.
Matthieu Gauzin - CG, Chalon-Reims
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Stalled-out developmental track salvaged by solid end to the year; blazing quickness from end-to-end that would be his standout NBA skill; only shot 26% from 3 last year and 39.5% from the field; very good passer; like how much he gets to the FT line; flirted with 2021 NBA Draft but was on outside looking in; the shooting needs to improve drastically before he's a serious draft name.
Brandon Newman - CG, Purdue
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Good size at 6'5" to play the 2; solid shooting year in his redshirt freshman season (37.9%); really good shot blocker for a guard; not a great finisher or pull-up shooter yet; runs off a ton of screens in Matt Painter offense -- should demonstrate skill well ahead of NBA days; more a fringe prospect right now, but could pop with national exposure.
Lester Quinones - CG, Memphis
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Quinones is on a great team with title hopes, so he'll be seen; high-volume shooter from deep; high-waisted and not overly explosive, which give me POA defensive concerns; initially thought he'd be more of a point or lead guard but slides to firm off-ball role around Duren and Bates; Tigers need a point, so an on-ball role isn't out of question; first two years with Tigers reveal more off-ball impact.
Marcus Sasser - PG, Houston
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: High-volume 3-point shooter who is ideal point guard to play an off-ball role within an offense; defensively best against 1s; hit 33.5% of 3s last year on 8 attempts per game; quick release despite being a little grounded on his jumper; solid off the bounce with high shot-making upside; should have a larger role with Quentin Grimes departure; really impressed in Final Four game against Baylor and is looking to build on that momentum; young enough to secure a 2nd round spot if the shooting takes another great leap.
Fedor Zugic - CG, Ulm
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Natural shooter with good 6'6" frame; nice touch in the mid-range with floaters and pull-ups; elite mechanics as a spot-up guy and could turn into a great threat; hit 38.5% from 3 last year; solid secondary creation upside but turnover rate is fairly high; takes a ton of 3-pointers for the Euro game; high defensive concerns but at 18 years old has the shooting profile worth the draft-and-stash regardless.
Backcourt Scorers
Players in this tier: 13
James Akinjo - PG, Baylor
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Super quick with the ball in his hands featuring a tight handle; 3rd team in 3 years a bit of a red flag; in first 3 college seasons was below 40% from the field; gets a ton of contact and gets to the free throw line; strong passer due to volume as much as anything else; competitive kid who fits culturally in Baylor; think he's got too much proof of low-efficiency to be a draft prospect.
Alex Barcello - PG, BYU
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Sniper from deep like BYU hasn't seen since Jimmer; ready for super senior run but not really on draft radars; scrappy and competitive more than athletic or shifty; shooting unlocks his entire game and forces teams to guard him; shot 48% from 3 over the last two years; doesn't turn it over a ton; without added quickness with ball in his hands, hard to see him as an NBA player.
Marcus Carr - PG, Texas
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Transfer from Minnesota coming off electric season; made dozens of tough shots and scored out of PNR in various ways last year; needs to be better from 3 (31.7%); solid athlete but not outstanding; great through contact and has solid A:TO numbers; think he's going to play off-ball more than ever before with Longhorns, an interesting development within a Chris Beard offense; might be a tad too old for draft stock unless he blows up at Texas.
Antoine Davis - PG, Detroit
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Prolific scorer heading into senior year; has high turnover rate due to usage and isn't a major detractor to me; three-straight years of taking more than 10 3FA per game; starting to add weight to his skinny frame but that's a big detractor to his game; strikes me as a professional G-League scorer who could earn his way up by doing well against that level of competition.
Kendric Davis - PG, SMU
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Undersized scoring point with warrior mentality; one of the quickest changes of speeds you'll ever see; very tight handle; really high A:TO rate - more than just a scorer; great at separating from his man 1v1 and can score it on all three levels; not sure if he's draftable at his size (5'11") and age but the scoring profile will be there; want to see another year of 3-point success -- made a big leap from 31% to 37% and that number needs to hold for him to be legit prospect.
DeVante Jones - PG, Michigan
Age on draft night: 24
Skimming Thoughts: Coastal Carolina transfer who thrived on high volume; major uptick in 3-pt. shooting from Soph (29.6%) to Junior (36.8%) but had inverse impact on his assists (5.7 to 2.9); gets to the FT line a ton and knocks them down; will pop in Michigan system under Juwan Howard, who always gets the most out of his guards; can play off-ball for stretches and will need to embrace that; steal-hawk (2.8 last year) — curious to see how that translates to Big Ten; think he's too old for draft consideration but is a strong G-League candidate.
Remy Martin - PG, Kansas
Age on draft night: 24
Skimming Thoughts: Unique fit as transfer from Arizona St to Kansas; best scoring PG Jayhawks have had in a while; over 19ppg each of last two years; very liberal with shot selection; smaller guard but very efficient at rim and inside the arc; gets to the FT line a lot; not a great passer out of PNR due to tunnel vision, not ability; not sure there's enough bloom left on the rose to get interested in him as draft prospect; needs to buy into Kansas on-ball defense to add layer to his game that gets me excited for his NBA future.
Iverson Molinar - CG, Mississippi State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Scoring-minded 6'3" guard who can play the 1 or the 2 effectively; coming off great shooting season with Bulldogs that propelled him towards 2nd round outskirts; curious to see how he pops and what his role is with improved talent in Starkville; shot over 43% from 3 on good volume last year; plays a tough brand of basketball; firmly on 2nd round radars as a rising JR.
Courtney Ramey - CG, Texas
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Polished scorer who can light it up in a hurry; not a pure on-ball guy but is good with ball in his hands; shot over 41% from 3 last season; wonder what his role will be on super-stacked Texas team with strong backcourt depth; more a good college scorer than pro-level one, another year of elite shooting could change that; one of the more underrated guys in the country.
Will Richardson - CG, Oregon
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Yet another underrated scorer out of Oregon; lights out shooter who should move into a primary role with the Ducks; will put up numbers, but can he be efficient and show translatable NBA traits (movement shooting, PNR creation, etc.); good size at 6'5" to play the 1 or the 2; a tad old to sneak his way into the first but is draftable based on his scoring.
Ryan Rollins - CG, Toledo
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Good mid-major freshman campaign; plays fairly square but good shiftiness and touch as a shooter; ready for higher volume with Rockets in undervalued league; had high turnover rate but is a gifted passer; pull-up upside to play with ball in his hands as lead guard; solid frame at 6'4"; not the quickest guy out there... has to become knockdown guy to extend his role to the NBA.
Nike Sibande - PG, Pittsburgh
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Sensational athlete who pops with highlight dunks; 5th year player may not be high on NBA radars but should put together a solid year at Pitt; shot over 40% from 3 a season ago; not a great creator for others with more a scoring mentality; very good rebounder; think he'll score well in college but his pathway to the pros is in embracing more a lockdown mentality.
Tyson Walker - PG, Michigan State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Great scoring season last year at Northeastern; undersized but skilled and very consistent shooter; a bit sloppy with turnovers but that could be product of him being extreme focus of opponent plans at Northeastern; not high on my draft radar right now but a great season in the Big Ten could easily change that.
Jahmir Young - PG, Charlotte
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Averaged 18 PPG as a sophomore in an attacking mentality at all times; gets to the FT line a ton; can shoot it from 3 but doesn't settle for a great deal of triples; will put up numbers once again in C-USA and potentially lead a team to the tournament; fringe prospect right now but definitely a guy I'm high on based on what I've seen.
The Classic Point Guards
Players in this tier: 11
Nicola Berdini - PG, Ravenna
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Strong shooting PG with more a scorer mentality than true facilitator; really strong vision out of PNR while playing with pace; really crafty with extremely tight handle; great floater should offset his lack of physicality at the rim; still a young prospect to keep an eye on but shooting feels legitimate and skill in the PNR hard to deny; this might not be his year but he should be intriguing to many.
Yuri Collins - PG, St. Louis
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Old-school pass-first PG who could lead nation in assists; shifty and smart but rarely puts pressure on the rim himself; half his attempts came from 3 last year while only shooting 24.1%; very undersized at 6'0" and needs to put strength on his frame; doesn't generate or convert on free throws; needs to fix one of shooting range or defensive aptitude to be an NBA guy -- don't think he's a good enough finisher or rare enough creator to overcome both deficiencies.
Michael Devoe - PG, Georgia Tech
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Great balance as scorer and playmaker; shifty and really polished ball handler; will come out of GT with prolific 4yr college career; shot over 40% from 3 for his career on high volume; makes expert reads out of the PNR; great in passing lanes on defense; polished game after 4-year career; a guy I'm really interested to see force his way onto an NBA roster: super competitive.
Collin Gillespie - PG, Villanova
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Game-manager type who wills his team to victory with his competitiveness; skilled scorer with mastery of fundamentals; coming off major injury that cost him NCAA Tournament run; career 37% shooter from 3 on high volume, especially off the bounce; solid size at 6'3"; does have a little Ryan Arcidiacono to his game and swagger; rarely makes a mistake or turns it over; could be a great college player who doesn't make it to pros but I'd be on him overachieving once the Villanova career is done.
Cam Hayes - PG, NC State
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Pass-first point guard and game manager who can hit shots from 3-point range and has solid stroke; really good facilitator and good size at 6'3"; tight handle and great poise or control; solid finisher who plays off two feet a lot; scoring inside the arc wasn't efficient but shows some below-the-rim potential; want to see if he can handle a greater scoring load; fringe prospect at this point.
Prentiss Hubb - PG, Notre Dame
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Next in a long line of Mike Brey-coached polished guards; good scorer on all levels but mostly an underrated passer; only 32% from 3 but has ability to hit shots from deep; can turn it over a bit much; not a defensive hub and plays for a college that doesn't prioritize it; wish he got to the rim or FT line a bit more; still skinny going into senior year; more grounded of an athlete than most guards for the next level but will have really strong college career.
Kyle Lofton - PG, St. Bonaventure
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Rising senior coming off horrid 3-pt. year with Bonnies; classic creator who sets table for others and plays physical brand of ball; good frame at 6'3", gets to FT line a good amount and knocks them down; very crafty in the PNR showing solid polish and traits that exhibit feel for the game; senior year big for reclaiming solid shooting numbers; had a few really good shooting performances but that underscores how inconsistent he was there; fringe 2nd rounder.
Jalen Pickett - PG, Penn State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Former mid-major darling moved up to Big Ten after injury-riddled season; great AST numbers as well as scoring numbers playing in MAAC; takes close to 50% of his shots from deep and knocks down enough to give trust in his jumper; beloved by analytics models for his ball security; might be too old to put himself on top-60 radars but a good showing with Nittany Lions would salvage his pro prospects; really underrated defender who blocks a ton of shots for a 6'4" point guard.
Grant Sherfield - PG, Nevada
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: By no means an NBA athlete but oozes skill and shot-making to potentially offset; super good change of pace player who thrives in the PNR; great leader with IQ and humble background and necessary toughness to be undersized NBA guard; high-level shooter sucks defenses out far beyond 3-point line; want to figure out how much room is left between where he is now and his ceiling but there's a good pro player in here somewhere.
Santiago Vescovi - PG, Tennessee
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Former NBA Global Academy guy from Uruguay; good shooter at 36.8% over two-year sample with the Vols; like that he plays off-ball as well as creating for others (3.1 AST, 1.9 TO); won't get a ton of Spread PNR looks within Rick Barnes motion offense; think he plays with a real level of skill and toughness; we know he's a talented passer and should get an NBA opportunity eventually to prove it.
Sahvir Wheeler - PG, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Unreal good passer and playmaker for others; tough and undersized guard at 5'10" but is supremely quick; high-usage rate led to massive assist numbers (7.4) and turnovers (4.4) at Georgia last year; not a shooter at all -- 22.5% from 3; lack of size and shooting a lot to overcome for him as a pro prospect; curious if expectation and stage at Kentucky will allow him to play through those shortcomings.
Big Men: The Athletes
Players in this tier: 9
Armando Bacot - P, North Carolina
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Mobile, powerful big man; glimpses of switchability on defense is main appeal; good catch-and-finish prospect w/ solid athletic burst and mainly right-hand finishes; strong frame allows him to play the 5 at 6'10"; potential for really strong defensive impact; super productive on offensive glass, a UNC staple; efficient finisher but hasn't shown much range to his game; jumper form needs massive work to be added to his game; lunch pale kind of guy with 2nd round upside.
Manny Bates - P, NC State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Supreme rim protector; long arms and freakish leaping ability; superb timing as a shot blocker; hyperefficient offensively since he only takes ones at the rim; made a massive leap from FY to SO from charity stripe (48% to 66%); not an outstanding rebounder by any means; needs to add strength due to his long legs if he's to withstand physicality of league; will post numbers and be a draft workout guy next year at the very least.
Vinicius da Silva - P, CB Prat
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Flirted with draft in 2021 and worked out for teams before withdrawing; signed to 5-yr deal so real draft-and-stash appeal; monster on the interior with solid vertical athleticism; a true PNR finisher, not sure how much perimeter skill he'll add in a league he can dominate decisively on interior; career 3-9 from 3 is the ultimate tease of a stat; not a hugely impactful shot blocker right now; fringe 2nd rounder without a super rare skill set for a big.
Myles Johnson - P, UCLA
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Elite collegiate shot blocker is grad transfer from Rutgers who may play small but important role for Bruins; incredibly smart kid with aspirations outside of NBA; 6'11" shot blocker was defensive backbone of Rutgers team (2.4 BLK) who cleaned up perimeter messes and shut down opposing bigs; has enough polish to show how he'd translate to Drop PNR scheme; could be a great training camp addition as an old head who has known role.
Ismael Kamagate - P, Paris
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Tremendous hands and leaping ability for a catch-and-finish big; dominates his current league with size, rim protection and PNR finishing; productive rebounder with all the makings of a raw, modern big man that NBA teams love; averaged 9.5 points and 6.8 boards shooting 70% from the field last year; sleeper draft-and-stash candidate for teams to develop overseas in the mold of mobile NBA finisher.
Makur Maker - P, Sydney Kings
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Played 2 games at Howard and was shut down; have not heard great things about his ability to play within a system and handle coachability; do have worries about his longevity and durability at his size; that said, does have unique skill upside looks as that unicorn-like threat; skilled on perimeter and solid shot blocker as rim protector; simply a guy who I wouldn't want to take the risk on based on the red flags present, regardless of the upside.
Osun Osunniyi - P, St. Bonaventure
Age on draft day: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Great 6'10" frame to go with skill and imapct; zero shooting range but shot blocking and rebounding make him pro prospect; 3 years of consistent impact in the A-10 show he's legitimate; 2.9 BLK most impressive stat feature, while the positive A:TO (50:35) is incredibly intriguing; was a high-major recruit so isn't a late-bloomer or slept on name; chance at being draftable and one of more underrated bigs in this draft class.
Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchuwa - P, Baylor
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Fantastic motor; really good shot blocker and rebounder; plays a simple game but is effective at it; a tad undersized at 6'8" but plays much bigger; good FT shooter for a big but doesn't take jumpers; expecting an expanded role this year; might be too old as redshirt senior to be early draft prospect but could sneak into late second with a great, consistent showing.
Oscar Tshiebwe - ATH, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Used to be super high on Big O as an NBA big man prospect; a tad undersized for the 5 conventionally but strong, a great rebounder, unbelievable shot blocker and super mobile; hasn't developed a ton of feel or shot-making; had HS and AAU glimpses of handling in open floor that is intriguing; curious transfer from WVU to Kentucky -- really wondering what he'll gain this year with Wildcats; tons of raw talent but running out of time for the "upside" label to be attached.
Big Men: The Skilled Guys
Players in this tier: 13
Olek Balcerowski - P, Mega Bemax
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Huge frame at 7'1" with fairly nimble movements; age might preclude him from first-round discussion; 8-23 from 3 for Gran Canaria last year, showing raw touch to his game; was really effective in 2021 Olympic Qualifiers (11.7 PTS, 3.0 REB, 2.7 AST, 1.7 BLK going 4-7 from 3 in 3 games); lots of skill that gets highlighted in Adriatic League with Mega Bemax; good level of skill for a big makes him fit for modern game w/ shooting upside and appeal; worth monitoring for 2nd round draft-and-stash discussion.
Garrison Brooks - P, Mississippi State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: 5th year senior transferring to Starkville from North Carolina; really low-volume stretch shooter who has made the ones he's took; finishing efficiency took a huge hit last season as he took many mid-range jumpers; good hi-lo passer and underrated creator from the high post; doesn't have standout NBA skill but has proven reliable as a big in the ACC; beautiful touch around the basket with polished footwork; not sure how much he'll add to his game to sneak into draft-worthy range.
Jordan Brown - P, UL-Lafayette
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: 3rd program for Brown (Nevada-Arizona-ULL); really terrific passer from high post and top of key; no range to 3 but plays a modern game; good rebounder; contact magnet that doesn't convert on FT; like the short roll upside but not much else; more below-the-rim than you'd expect from a roller; likely at the right level as a starter in Sun Belt; simply not big or mobile enough to warrant draft excitement right now.
Colin Castleton - P, Florida
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Michigan transfer had good season as shot blocker (2.3 BLK); fancied as stretch-5 but hasn't made one in career (0-8); a bit slow laterally and not switchable; very good timing as a rim protector; could add some bulk; works hard on the glass; could be a G-League guy after 4-yr. college career; showed mobility at Michigan on offense that is intriguing; worth monitoring.
Zach Edey - P, Purdue
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Absolutely massive big at 7'4"; really skilled for that size with great footwork and defensive discipline; plays in tough system at Purdue; was fantastic in FIBA U-19 World Cup; nice touch as free throw shooter; will be exclusively a Drop PNR big; worry about someone his size staying durable over the long run; not mobile enough to get up and down and needs a half-court game to play his style; think he's a poor fit stylistically for the league.
Zach Freemantle - P, Xavier
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Super-productive sophomore season averaging 16 and 9 put him in fringe prospect circles; added capability as stretch-5: 32.1% on more that 3 attempts per game; not an overwhelmingly quick athlete who can make improvements to his footwork on both ends; solid creative chops but turns it over a lot; biggest obstacle will be rim protection ability - if he can be reliable positionally as an anchor, has a shot; game might be best suited for European career.
Ariel Hukporti - P, Nevezis
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Hulking interior presence with superb touch at the rim; not a major above-the-rim guy but does damage on the block; can play off 2 dribbles or less; passing feel and perimeter play aren't there, so not sure how much I trust him to run NBA offenses above the break yet; old fashioned low post scorer who could continue to develop potency and become a mismatch target in the future.
Kevin Obanor - P, Texas Tech
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Oral Roberts transfer who popped in NCAA Tournament and cashed in; legitimate stretch big with high volume from deep (42.5% from 3 on 2.5 attempts over 3 years at ORU); great FT shooter to put bow on legitimate shooting chops; very good positional rebounder; not a high-level defender so needs the offensive impact to carry him; year in Big Twelve will be huge for draft stock -- if he plays well, could be a great Exhibit-10 prospect.
Efton Reid - P, LSU
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Offensive-minded big who prepped at IMG and joins an LSU program with major offensive focus; super strong down low with wide shoulders; uses both hands pretty well on interior; has some jump shot upside as a freshman -- want to see how LSU uses him in that regard; potential to be a one-and-done but game is a little bit interior-focused in a way that doesn't give me prime NBA translation or feel.
Liam Robbins - P, Vanderbilt
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Minnesota transfer gives intrigue as rare combination of shot blocker (2.7 BLK) and 3-point shooter (32.7% on 2.3 attempts); never been a super-efficient finisher at the basket but has solid touch; was at Drake before Minnesota and had similar impact; decently mobile and plays hard in open floor; will pop within NBA-based concepts of Jerry Stackhouse; fringe NBA guy more should be paying attention to.
Jamarion Sharp - P, Western Kentucky
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: 7'2" with 7'7" wingspan and perimeter upside has intrigue; top JUCO player in nation last year who posted triple-double on PTS/REB/BLK; still thin and not the quickest leaper but length counteracts those in terms of upside; high level defender when he can play in Drop coverage; want to see the offensive production within a system and how mobile he can be on defense; legitimate sleeper potential.
Trevion Williams - P, Purdue
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Much more skilled than he gets credit for; double-double machine with excellent feel; prolific rebounder; really struggles to shoot, especially from free throw line; like him as a passer with short roll upside (the key to my heart); good interior defender; not a dominant finisher enough to stand up against NBA competition in my mind; fringe 2nd rounder at best.
Jalen Wilson - F, Kansas
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Up-and-down season last year at Kansas; playing the 4 a ton but found college impact as a smaller 5; not sure he is physical enough to replicate that, or quick enough to be a full-time 4; underrated handle and face-up creator off the bounce; good in transition; if he becomes more consistent from deep he's a fringe second/ priority two-way guy for me.
Wings Galore
Players in this tier: 14
Jabri Abdur-Rahim - W, Georgia
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Polar shift of programs going from Virginia to Georgia; needed shot-maker within Tom Crean offense; hoping he brings competitive defense with him from UVA; NBA pedigree from father Shareef and playing at Blair Academy; still need strength but is really skilled with ball in his hands and has elite touch around the rim; really liked his game in HS but need to see how he translates in college before jumping on the bandwagon.
Keion Brooks - W, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Highly talented scorer who has struggled in 2 years at Kentucky; career 23% 3pt. shooter; good rebounder for his size; two consecutive years w/ negative A:TO -- doesn't make teammates better; tends to disappear for stretches; wonder if he can reclaim some of his elite talent he had coming out of HS; still a good finisher but too often looks lost to be trusted in draft circles.
Sardaar Calhoun - W, Texas Tech
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: 3-straight seasons of 40% shooting from 3 at JUCO level and Florida State (39.7% last year); not a jump-out-the-gym athlete but solid enough to get by; very square as a jump shooter, limiting upside projection off the bounce; bursty and energetic in straight lines; seems to play hard at all times but rarely gets to FT line; competent defender after year in strong Florida State system; unsure if he's much more than off-ball shooting specialist long-term; needs expanded minutes at Tech to land on draft radars.
Devan Cambridge - W, Auburn
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Needs strong season to rebound from rough impact as sophomore; shot 37% from the field with a 1:2 A:TO ratio; projects as good athlete and strong defender; great athlete who is fantastic cutter off-ball in half-court; pretty solidly a thin 3 but not likely a positive defender against most 4s in NBA; has put together some impressive games and some duds... needs to find consistency to reclaim intrigue as prospect; positional scarcity and upside could get him a chance in G-League.
Abramo Canka - W, Nevezis
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Great 6'6" frame with high motor and NBA-level athleticism; hard worker and gym rat plus all other intangibles; didn't shoot it great with Nevezis after transfer but was 37.5% the season before; shooting is the swing skill for his NBA future, especially now that he'll stick in higher leagues outside of Italy; injury issues interrupted some of his reliability; intrigued but not sold enough on body of work to put him in top-100.
Tom Digbeu - W, Brisbane
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Super athlete who pops in transition; lob play candidate and good enough handle to take it end to end or attack off-balanced closeouts; rail-thin body right now makes him far from NBA-ready; long legs and quick burst make him worth developing to me; not sure how he'll handle physicality of NBL but will be a big test for his draft stock; career 22% from 3 is biggest obstacle to his long-term growth and role in the league.
Josiah-Jordan James - W, Tennessee
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Drop-off from 3-point range from freshman year (36.7%) to sophomore (30.8%) highly complicates draft status; much more of a creator as a wing than spot-up threat; elite defender with strong statistical impact (1.4 STL, 1.0 BLK in 27 MPG); think he's a sneaky 3-and-D wing prospect if he can stabilize the shooting numbers; has enough playmaking and defensive aptitude to be an NBA-caliber wing once the shot falls.
Lefteris Mantzoukas - W, Panthiakos
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Much more a power wing and closer to a 4 than a perimeter-oriented 2; can get streaky from 3 and effectively space to the perimeter; solid passer and pretty good off the bounce; good size at 6'9" and very mobile body; has a little bit of Deni Avdija to him; best trait is how he shoots but can be a solid help defender; good on switches and can guard 3 thru 5; think he's a strong draft-and-stash candidate for 2022.
Tramon Mark - W, Houston
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Tweener wing/ combo guard who is electric defender; struggled shooting (26% 3FG) as a freshman but had some clutch moments; lunch pale guy with actual scoring upside off the bounce; averaged 11.7 PPG when he played 20+ minutes and now has room for minutes with Quentin Grimes gone; major-time quick-hands defender that should live in transition; shooting from 3 the big skill to firmly entrench himself as draft prospect.
Wendell Moore - W, Duke
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Disappointing first two years at Duke; need to see him become the guy he was promised to be out of high school before considering for draft; at 6'5" is more of a 4 than a 2; only shot 30% from 3 this year; solid passer but ridiculously high turnover rate for his usage; has so much to clean up but has enough raw talent to find a taker for his services even without fully-improved arsenal.
Micah Peavy - W, TCU
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Immense defensive potential due to lateral quickness and strong athleticism; Texas Tech transfer popped in their no-middle system under Chris Beard; in need of continued offensive development to become pro prospect; good frame at 6'7" but was 0-3 from 3 last year; not well-suited to move up and be a full-time 4 -- his strength is in hounding opposing guards and being a solid playmaker; putrid FT shooter further evidence of lack of touch; more a "wait-and-see" prospect based on the offensive development.
Javonte Perkins - W, St. Louis
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Solid 2-year career at St. Louis thus far; shoots it well (37.6% from 3) and has positive A:TO with some playmaking chops; perfect low-usage but high-IQ prospect to fill out a roster or impact game in G-League; release is a tad stiff but has the size to play the 3; seems like he did what he needed this offseason by adding great deal of bulk to his frame; draft sleeper likely to turn heads in workouts if he keeps shooting it well.
Julian Strawther - W, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Rising sophomore with uncertain role on uber-talented Zags team; good off-ball guard who could fill a Joel Ayayi-type role; played well with Puerto Rico in FIBA U-19 games; need to see him find a definitive skillset on offense - looks solid as handler and shooter but not great at either; will he have the playing time to show consistency and develop a reputation either way?
Dalen Terry - W, Arizona
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Unbelievable mismatch creator at the wing spot; plays like a facilitating guard and is best when surrounded by shooting; skill set could pop at Arizona this year if used correctly -- love the pairing of he and Kriisa; shot a solid 32.6% from 3 last year, a number that must go up for pro prospects; unsure if he can play at multiple speeds; active and plus-defender; a guy I'm monitoring for second-round skill impact.
Forwards: The Guys Who Play the 4
Players in this tier: 12
Yahir Bonilla - F, MundoBSKT
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Really good rebounder with Real Madrid's second team; strong through contact to pair with tremendous motor; upside is that he can defensively cover 3 thru 5; rebound and run potential with slight handle improvements; shooting and figuring out offensive development key for him; might be a year too soon to start discussing him but fit for modern NBA is there.
Ben Carlson - F, Wisconsin
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Good scorer with mismatch potential who was injured and played sparingly as a freshman; love the skill that Wisconsin guys leave with as inside-outside presences; biggest strides need to be on defensive end; might be a little bit of a tweener 4 or 5 that can get exposed in modern NBA; big year for his jumper and consistency, too; more a name to know if he pops offensively, which he is fully capable of, than a guy we're circling for 2022 NBA Draft.
Dylan Disu - F, Texas
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Hyper-productive statistical profile; 15 and 9 as a sophomore while posting 1.4 AST, 1.1 STL and 1.2 BLK; good body at 6'9"; not sure what position he guards at next level but was wildly successful within up-tempo Commodores scheme; unknown of the Texas offense makes him hard to project; real sleeper in this class as a second round or undrafted guy; improved shooting to 37% from 3 on high volume - would be great to see him repeat this; really big fan.
Dawson Garcia - F, North Carolina
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Transfer from Marquette with stretch potential; 6'11" shooting frontcourt guy who isn't a rim protector; question is whether he'll be able to play his game or conform to a two-big, non-shooting emphasis at UNC; very good rebounder but not a great creator; classic tweener for draft circles -- not quick enough laterally to play the 4, not skilled enough to play the 5. Major rehabilitation needed to get him higher on draft boards.
Arthur Kaluma - F, Creighton
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Could be an instant-impact freshman for Creighton; good balance of athletic interior finishing and perimeter shooting upside; like the physical nature of his game and the constant motor he plays with; want to see more perimeter skill outside of shooting before denoting him as a perimeter offensive threat; some one-and-done upside but most likely a multiple-year college player.
Konstantin Kostadinov - F, Parma
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Really underrated athlete who is supremely fluid for his size; improving shooter with nice form; rebound-and-run potential; very creative open-floor passer with strong handles; loves to shoot passing lanes and is more aggressive defensively on perimeter than most his build; at his age he should be a sleeper for NBA teams to monitor and potentially try to drive towards the 2023 NBA Draft -- I really like his game.
Justin Lewis - F, Marquette
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Not as high on Lewis as a draft prospect as mainstream outlets; very good athlete and versatile rebounder with high motor; tough kid and plays like it; shows shooting upside and chops; like his frame at 6'7"; think he's going to be a plus defender; not sure he's skilled enough to be a 3 or big enough to be a 4 which limits long-term versatility; solid 2nd round name to monitor.
Nate Laszewski - F, Notre Dame
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Classic Stretch-4 at 6'10" with little interior presence; was absolute sniper from deep last year making 43.4% of his 3-pointers; solid mobility and movement shooting, which unlocks his usage as a Steve Novak type at his peak; solid rebounder due to standing reach; plays fairly square and doesn't have much off the bounce; plays a dying position at stretch-4 due to its frequent defensive limitations; fringe prospect who could pop in right defensive system.
Donta Scott - F, Maryland
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Physical specimen who is a load at the 4; really came on as a shooter last year (43.8% from 3 on high volume); if he repeats that performance and the shooting is real, he'll be a draftable prospect; very good rebounder; underrated playmaker for others off the bounce; freak athlete who can throw down some posters; doesn't have a mid-range game but might not need it; my favorite pro prospect on this forward list.
Anton Watson - F, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Skilled passer for a big who can play the perimeter or off the roll; too undersized to be a full-time 5 and has lost a step laterally of late: got targeted by some teams in NCAA Tourney; hasn't developed the 3-point game that's trustworthy (4-29 career from deep); if he regains the quickness he's an impactful defender; smart player who does a lot of the little things; struggling to envision where his offensive role is in the NBA heading into his junior season.
Deandre Williams - F, Memphis
Age on draft night: 25
Skimming Thoughts: Really skilled stretch forward with elite feel; 3.4 AST last game and can produce within an offense or when plays break down; struggled a bit as a finisher at the rim after strong start in MVC at Evansville; two straight years of 45% shooting from 3 on respectable enough volume; will be an older guy on draft night; analytical darling with his offensive production and ability to create turnovers on the other end; if he's elite as a glue guy this year, will have a clear pro role he fits into; draft status is harmed by age, though.
Fanbo Zeng - F, G-League Ignite
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Powerful athlete but still worry about his quickness; will be a boom-or-bust season for him in G-League bubble; has a modern offensive game with perimeter handles; shooting touch looks fine but might not hold up on massive volume; fringe draftable this year and more a second-round threat than anything -- hard to see him getting into the first.
Shooting Specialists
Players in this tier: 7
Buddy Boeheim - W, Syracuse
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Sniper with super deep range and ability to get hot in a hurry; probably not as good a prospect as he seemed after March and not as poor as he's come down to Earth as; defensive worry is there but in a shooting specialist role it may not matter; solid length and size at 6'6" to be a wing; pretty solid 49.1% from 2-point range makes him legitimate to curl screens or attack closeouts; simple game but for who he is has some NBA upside.
Christian Braun - W, Kansas
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Solid shooting threat; 63% 3pt rate at Kansas leads to projection as specialist at next level; not overwhelmingly elite from deep (only 34% this year) but better than numbers indicate; solid defensive metrics and competitiveness; more athletic than most shooting specialists; a year above 38% from deep could vault him into draft range.
Jalen Bridges - W, West Virginia
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: 40% 3-point shooter last year; stereotypical 3-and-D wing; good size at 6'7"; does virtually nothing off the bounce; isn't a great defender but has some shit to him playing under Huggins at West Virginia; solid backdoor cutter feel; not a great athlete vertically; constantly underrated out of HS and two years since; wouldn't be surprised if he turns into a fringe draft prospect due to his size and value of shooting.
Tajion Jones - W, UNC-Asheville
Age on draft night:
Skimming Thoughts: Mid-major sniper who has proven himself as a shooter on high volume (42.5% 3FG on 8.0 3FA last year); nearly 70% of attempts came from deep; at 6'5" has good size to play the 2 in the NBA; has little else to his game but the efficiency on high volume makes him hard to deny as an impactful prospect; want to see how he'd handle a speed of the game adjustment -- struggled with that his freshman year in college; high-character kid with little downside as a G-League or Exhibit-10 roster-filler.
Anthony Polite - W, Florida State
Age on draft night: 24
Skimming Thoughts: Fifth-year senior who can get hot in a hurry; 43.6% from 3 on high volume last year; benefitted by playing in switching scheme at FSU that develops IQ and shows NBA translation; surprisingly poor FT shooter for a 3-point sniper; should comfortably guard the 3 and some 4s; smooth lefty that can take guys off the bounce by attacking closeouts; might be too old to wind up on draft radars.
Baylor Scheierman - W, South Dakota State
Age on draft day: 21
Skimming Thoughts: High-volume shooter who drilled lots of treys as a sophomore (43.8% on 5.7 attempts); does more attacking off the bounce and self-creation than others on this list -- might be a product of the team he plays with at SDST; fantastic mid-major rebounder (9.2 REB) with 2:1 A:TO last year; OK vertical athlete despite the set shot from perimeter; not the smoothest lefty but worth monitoring.
Sasha Stefanovic - W, Purdue
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Another old head shooter on deep team; supremely quick release and flashes of deep range; not a guy you want to put the ball on the floor; really small and undersized for his position; defensive target with thin 6'5" body; not really a pro target due to absence of ball skills.
The Raw Athletes
Players in this tier: 7
Warith Alatishe - ATH, Oregon State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Undersized 4/5 who rarely shoots it from deep; springy athlete best in a catch-and-finish role; 3-23 career shows lack of development in J; poor touch from FT line as well (53.7% last year); not a big scorer but a tremendous defender who is active; 2.6 "slocks" per game last year; strong creator off the bounce for others; incredibly mobile with high defensive upside and lockdown potential; hard to envision offensive game developing much more.
Toumani Camara - ATH, Dayton
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Underrated athlete who played well in SEC; moves to pro-style offense at Dayton under Anthony Grant; productive rebounder who plays bigger than he is; fairly stiff lefty on offense; not a very good shooter (26% last year from 3) and has to improve to be an NBA 4-man; love how hard he plays and frequently he gets to the line; toolsy defender with strong statistical impact (2.3 slocks); high on my wild cards list who could propel himself firmly into high-2nd round range with a great year.
Quincy Guerrier - ATH, Oregon
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Supremely high-upside athlete with erratic shooting splits; got to 31% last year on solid volume; elite rebounder and leaper; NBA role will be as a slasher on offense who can space the floor... needs to get above 35% from 3 to show me enough progress there; tons of defensive upside and capability; want to see him in man-to-man scheme now that he's transferred out of Syracuse; physical profile could get him drafted and put him high on sleeper radars but age keeps him to a late-2nd round era.
Andre Jackson - ATH, Connecticut
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Massive athletic upside that hasn't been pieced together; super long arms at 6'6" to play the 3 or the 4; unstoppable in open floor when attacking the rim; terrible feel in half-court -- must improve handle in tight spaces and take care of the ball; should be a versatile defensive piece with his athletic upside; made a few shots and form isn't broken; one of those fringe guys who will be really scary as a player and prospect if he figures it out.
Yoan Makoundou - ATH, Cholet
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: High-flying athlete who is best when his motor is in high gear; best as a rim-runner with posterizing potential; has quickness and small functional dribbling samples to be able to attack other bigs and poor closeouts from perimeter; don't know if he can play the 4 without massive overhaul to his jump shot; 6'9" makes him a tad undersized to defend the post; still very raw but not as young as many make him out to be.
Barra Njie - CG, Fryshuset
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Super athletic 6'3" combo who is strong enough to perhaps play 1 thru 3; loves to create his own shot and is more mid-range than 3 right now; has some unique athletic flashes above the rim; long arms and very good rebounder, especially in traffic; might be too raw to be considered as a draft prospect but is an NBA-caliber athlete.
David Roddy - ATH, Colorado State
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Bruising power guard who is more a wing or even undersized 4 than a lead guard; averaged 16 and 9 as a sophomore in physical Mountain West; supremely efficient finisher at the rim; takes 3-pointers in respectable volume and is rapidly improving (thought still below 30%); super productive inside the arc and in transition; unbelievable first step would be lethal if combined with a jumper; if he breaches 30% on solid volume he's a borderline draftable guy -- this year's version of Anthony Lamb out of Vermont.
Utility Role Players
Players in this tier: 6
Matt Bradley - ATH, San Diego State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: A 6'4" 4-man at his best; coming off two good years at Cal where he both scored and shot it well from deep; good rebounder and contact-magnet; love his frame to guard 2 thru 4 in the NBA; heinous ball security; not a great passer and sloppy with his handle; like his game but still am not sure where to put him best in the NBA.
Darius Days - ATH, LSU
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Unorthodox 4-man scorer; 50% from field and 40% from 3 last year as junior; great strength at 6'7" and 245lbs; competitive on offensive glass; not a great passer or feel but doesn't turn it over a lot; not fond of him defensively but could be a Swiss Army Knife offensive player in the frontcourt.
Haowen Guo - ATH, Shanghai Sharks
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Legitimate NBA-caliber upside with modern game at 6'7"; shoots it well from 3 and can score in a hurry when he gets hot; dominated lots of less-athletic competition; strong playmaker off the bounce, the underrated part of his game; looked solid at G-League Showcase this Summer; generates a ton of contact and gets to the free throw line; more evidence of how he plays at pace crucial to seeing draft stock but think he can stick in NBA or G-League.
Keyontae Johnson - ATH, Florida
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Hard to know what to expect after tragic end to last season; Johnson was squarely 2nd round target as big-bodied but mobile 4-man with skill; not sure how heart issue and subsequent lost season might impact draft stock; best not to be subjective but this season will illuminate whether Johnson can get back on draft watch at all.
Zsombor Maronka - ATH, Joventut
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Tall wing out of Hungary who moves very well; unique upside as an off-the-dribble scorer; solid athlete who can play above the rim; stroke is clean as a shooter; hit 32.7% from deep on solid volume this year -- encouraging but not a positive yet; doesn't block a lot of shots for a long, bouncy 6'10" forward; prototype for European athletic 4s in the future and worth a draft-and-stash pick in 2022 if he gradually improves.
Jermaine Samuels - ATH, Villanova
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Eric Paschall, Dante Cunningham, Jermemiah Robinson-Earl... these hybrid, modern 4s who come out of Villanova have lasting power in the NBA; going into his 5th year at 'Nova he has their system down pat and is known commodity; up-and-down shooter who was up to 37.1% from 3 last year; super competitive defender; if the shooting is legit it pairs well with playmaking (2.5 AST) and finishing (career 54% from 2) at 6'7" and 235lbs; will turn 24 early into rookie year; not really a draft prospect but a G-League or 2-Way name to know.
Talented but Eyeing 2023
Players in this tier: 14
Moussa Diabate - F, Michigan
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Super versatile big man who can play the 4 or 5; sky is the limit for him on both ends but needs a lot of work to get to that point; will be blanketed and protected well in Juwan Howard's scheme, showing modern NBA skills while also not getting his weak points exposed; Wolverines might be too stacked for him to showcase enough or get a ton of time to be a one-and-done -- think scouts want to figure out who he guards best.
Mouhamed Gueye - ATH, Washington State
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: FY chose Wazzou over UCLA and Kansas; sharing frontcourt with another prospect in Abogidi so may fly a tad under radar; supreme length and wingspan (7'5") make him ideal big man candidate; played more a spot-up role in HS and can do so again in analytically-charged WSU offense; lacks toughness and physicality right now that could take a year to build up on college level; has all the tools to be on an NBA radar though hard to see him as a one-and-done.
Zion Harmon - PG, Western Kentucky
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Undersized 5'10" point guard with elite ball handling ability; has been playing up against higher competition since he was young, so won't be overwhelmed as a small freshman; long leash given to him to create offensively by Rick Stansbury; awesome layup and floater package to make up for lack of size; want to see reliability of jumper and defense, the two standard areas for undersized guards to earn our trust.
DaRon Holmes - F, Dayton
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Very mobile 4-man who can pressure and defend away from the hoop; solid set shot potential from deep that might be best against 5s but can work against 4s; does have legitimate pull-up potential and unique shake off one dribble; body and frame need work before he will hold up against NBA-level contact.
Harrison Ingram - W, Stanford
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: High-feel wing prospect with Swiss Army Knife style of play; doesn't have one trait to hang his hat on but does lots of things well; shooting form is a tad low and might need to get raised up; haven't seen a ton of positive development or impact from Stanford the last few years, so thinking a trend could be in place that means Ingram needs an additional year in college.
William Jeffress - ATH, Pittsburgh
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Rising sophomore who was young for his class to begin with; high athletic and scoring upside torpedoed by lack of physicality; good size at 6'7" but more of a bursty 2/3 than someone who can play the 4 right now; struggled mightily as a freshman (22.8% FG, 3-20 3FG) despite starting 4 games; still has fluid upside but needs a major reclamation season before jumping back on NBA radars.
Jordan Longino - CG, Villanova
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Fantastic shooter with elite stroke; good frame but not overly explosive; was high school QB and has really good vision; can be a 3-level scorer eventually; hard to see him getting early minutes in bulk with Gillespie back at school; more a name to watch in 2023 when he learns how to be vocal leader and competitive defender; must improve vertical athleticism a bit.
Bryce McGowens - CG, Nebraska
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Big scoring upside as 6'6" guard with long arms and great burst; biggest recruit in Nebraska history playing in hyper-spaced system under Fred Hoiberg; could have full reign of offense as freshman but struggle with consistency and efficiency on the whole; sneaky one-and-done prospect if he puts it together but think the lack of help around him makes him multi-year college guy; shot selection and not forcing big trait we're watching.
Josh Minott - W, Memphis
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Livewire wing who can really score it and is underrated playmaker; worried he'll be buried on depth chart within talented Tigers team; talented enough for minutes but should be behind Earl Timberlake and not quite good enough spot-up yet to play next to their multiple bigs and wings; still needs some time to develop physically with his wiry frame; great name to track for 2023.
Stevie Mitchell - PG, Marquette
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Incredibly mature person and game; prolific HS scorer who can do nearly anything off the bounce; makes others around him better; incredibly good change of pace; will be slightly overshadowed by Justin Lewis in town but could wind up being Marquette's best prospect; really smooth in the mid-range and can stop on a dime; form could use some tweaking; want to see how he defends as youngster; thinking he's a two-year college guy.
Kowacie Reeves - W, Florida
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Pops off the screen as an athletic shot-maker; can see him being a draft darling that earns high praise heading into 2023 draft cycle; a bit raw right now on defense; playing at Florida hasn't translated to much one-and-done success in the past; don't think he's a guy who does much with the ball in his hands at next level: will he embrace more of an off-ball role out of the gate at Florida?
Hunter Sallis - PG, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: 6'5" lead guard who creates shots for others; second-fiddle in their backcourt to me behind Hickman and not as polished as Nembhard off-ball so might get squeezed in terms of minutes; capable of being a one-and-done but the role at Gonzaga could hold him back; super quick and has skill but not a high-level shot-maker; think he's going to get pushed to a fringe 1st rounder in 2023.
Jalen Warley - PG, Florida State
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Love the pedigree and success he had at Westtown; really underrated prospect who pops next to a great big; shooting range box is checked for a lead guard -- a big thing for me; struggled with TOs at times on AAU circuit, which might push him to smaller role as FY or more to a long-term prospect; want to see a bit more athletic burst and strength from him but think the skill is enough to monitor.
Benny Williams - ATH, Syracuse
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Super wiry but bouncy athlete; can play either forward spot but is far too thin and not strong enough to be a factor on defense; zone might blanket that but it's a concern for his one-and-done status; don't love betting on Syracuse guys to develop offensively for NBA level; curious one to watch but more a long-term prospect to me.
The "Peak In College" Crew
Players in this tier: 8
Max Abmas - CG, Oral Roberts
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Major collegiate scorer who struggled in pro combine; shooting range flashes are ridiculous; put up insanely efficient year in '20-21 at ORU and lead them to Sweet Sixteen; not a great athlete, both in testing or in play style; think he's too small to play himself into draft consideration but could have career as great G-League scorer.
Andre Curbelo - PG, Illinois
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Tremendously fun passer; such a high IQ in open floor, attacking closeouts or operating out of PNR; fantastic collegiate leader who can make all his teammates better; struggles to shoot the ball and that's a worry for me; stylistically prefer high-usage PNR guys to punish teams that go under; worry the cupboard is bare around him in Illinois to make him look great.
Hunter Dickinson - P, Michigan
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Two years in Juwan Howard system at Michigan could make him hard to pass on; very good with angles and strong rebounder; not the greatest athlete but very good frame; underrated passer but rarely was used atop the key; think bigs with more athletic pop and upside will be ahead of him on my draft board and there's simply too few spots for his spot to believe in him as a draft prospect right now; adding range to 3 would change that.
Trayce Jackson-Davis - P, Indiana
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Playing for Mike Woodson will be definitive proof of whether there's an NBA future here; freak athlete who plays above the rim and is great in transition; somewhat lazy and takes easy way out; no perimeter game developed yet, so hard to see him as anything but a 5; all left hand at the rim; could be solid PNR finisher if he embraces role and vacates post; mobile or switchable defender who could be good in multiple schemes; getting a little old for the term upside to still be on his side.
Jaime Jaquez - F, UCLA
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Mismatch nightmare since he can handle the ball or post up, be the screener or creator in the PNR; crafty old-man's game on either block with tremendous footwork; competitive defender who is better than you think but not great either way; will get a ton of offense run through him at UCLA; might be a really good college guy who doesn't have definitive role or athleticism to thrive in NBA.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. - P, Louisiana Tech
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Throwback back-to-basket scorer; raised eyebrows with impact in FIBA U19 World Cup; really crafty and polished with his huge frame; doesn't move very well; that shows up on defense, where he isn't quick on perimeter and doesn't react well to PNR; less-athletic, less-upside version of Jahlil Okafor... hard to envision NBA role right now.
Jahvon Quinerly - PG, Alabama
Age on draft night: 23
Skimming Thoughts: Fantastic creator or facilitator in space; shooting the ball well; small frame and not a live-wire athlete; think Alabama's system is so pro-like that it limits the added value of joining that system to projecting his upside; not great on-ball due to size and frame; think he'll get bullied around in the NBA despite his polish and likely solid offensive package.; simply too old to leapfrog younger, talented guys without the size or athletic concerns.
Drew Timme - P, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Really talented inside-outside scorer; fantastic at DHO keepers; crafty footwork and plays thru contact; knocks down shots from the perimeter; impossible to guard in his conference; really struggles defensively; not vertical or quick enough to find a natural position; would get exposed more in NBA; needs to get remarkably quicker to have my attention as draft prospect.
Names others are higher on
Players in this tier: 12
Ochai Agbaji - W, Kansas
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: 3-and-D upside with his athleticism; much more a finisher than a shooter right now; could have a good year at Kansas and work his way into the 2nd round; at 22, he doesn't really qualify anymore as a raw upside pick; 3-point shot gotten better every year; if it heads above 40% he has a shot to rise up my rankings; doesn't get to the free throw line enough for a good athlete and frequent driver.
Julian Champagnie - W, St. John's
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Twin brother Justin now with Toronto Raptors; Julian more 3-and-D upside but is both streaky from 3 and inconsistent on D; really good rebounder for his position; think of him as a 3 and pretty much only a 3 on defense; not the quickest; improvement of ball skills necessary; will have plenty of opportunity with the Johnnies.
Allen Flanigan - W, Auburn
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Likely to miss entire year due to injury; hard to evaluate where he'll be but hard to see him as draftable off an injury and last year's sample; super athlete whose game may be hampered or changed now; improving shooter - want to see how he responds after the injury; brutal timing for the trajectory he was on, just too hard to trust a draft pick now. Best scenario is a Charles Matthews-like flier, but think he returns to school next year.
Johnny Juzang - W, UCLA
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Renaissance March Madness reclaimed value after down freshman year at Kentucky; likely is somewhere between the two in terms of value; don't love his shot selection and desire to shoot it a lot off the bounce; slow to attack closeouts; not a physical player and will struggle to guard bigger wings; can be a lights out shooter but don't love the rest of his game.
Walker Kessler - P, Auburn
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Unique upside prospect standing 7'1" with demonstrated range to 3 and solid skill; transferred to Auburn after seemingly being buried behind bigs at UNC; clashed at Carolina due to his desire to exhibit modern game from perimeter; will see how impactful he is... think it's more intrigue and potential than overall impact; still needs to add physical growth and core strength; definite skill-based upside but am worried pace and physicality of SEC could expose him a bit.
Mojave King - CG, Adelaide 36ers
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Struggles in first year in NBL have dropped King's NBA evaluation; switching from Cairns to Adelaide might help in terms of opportunity; battled inconsistent minutes and production; think his pull-up jumper is fairy slow and doesn't have a ton of lift; decent touch from deep and a smooth-looking jumper; worry about quickness of his feet; was once thought to be a lottery guy but isn't someone I'm that high on until he becomes efficient enough offensively to offset defensive concerns.
Taevion Kinsey - W, Marshall
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Skilled passer and slasher who finishes well; statistically strong shooter but fairly low volume from 3; want to see him do it on more attempts this year; good frame and has changed his body; some think he's a first-round guy but I don't see it at his age/ lack of proven shooting; very good defender who will be ready to play in NBA earlier in his career than others in this tier.
Adam Miller - CG, LSU
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Score-first combo who can light it up; good length but want to see his frame hold up through contact; don't love his 6'3" listing for someone who is more off-ball and scorer; transferred out of Illinois where he was third cog behind Dosunmu and Curbelo; should get pretty free reign to show what he can do at LSU, but passing and willingness to play defense are worth checking on.
Keegan Murray - F, Iowa
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: 6'8" inside-outside big with good enough length to guard some 5s; only shot 29.6% from 3 but showed touch and confidence by shooting high volume; improved as season went along; will likely have large role in offense during a make-or-break draft cycle for him; always liked his motor and competitiveness; expect him to be solid on defense and could easily be proven too low on him - just want to see it more consistently in a big role.
Andrew Nembhard - CG, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Great role player last year w/ Gonzaga that has some potential to blossom in larger role; absolutely superb passer who might be best in the nation; shows glimpses of impressive self-creation; worried his shot release is a tad low; not the most explosive athlete but is highly skilled; uses both hands well as a passer and a finisher; the flashes out of PNR are real but only shooting 32.6% from 3 over three years has me slightly down on him for next level in either on-ball or off-ball role.
Kadary Richmond - W, Seton Hall
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Unique positionless prospect; big upside but didn't put it together at Syracuse; tremendous facilitator which is his primary function and role; struggles as a shooter on low volume; put up fantastic defensive numbers at Syracuse within their zone; not going to buy into the same impact within man-to-man until I see it; could be a defensive specialist if he tests well who has the IQ and feel offensively to make it work.
Terrence Shannon Jr. - CG, Texas Tech
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Not impressed by the freshman or sophomore year play of TSJ; Texas Tech guys have notoriously poor record under Chris Beard of improving offensively; got a lot better as a sophomore from 3 (up from 25% to 35.7%) but dropped off as a finisher a bit; raw talent is there but he's not the youngest guy out there by any means; would need a supremely impressive offensive showing in a new system to get me on board.
Our Favorite 2nd Round Prospects
Players in this tier: 11
Efe Abogidi - P, Washington State
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Really high ceiling big man; legitimate 3pt. range evidenced by his comfort shooting them (took 55 as a freshman); plays for analytics-minded coach so game might have easy NBA translation; still raw but looking for big improvements from fresh to soph years; good finisher who needs to add strength; think he has a lot of potential as a rim protector; a major season would drag him into the 1st round discussion.
Ruben Dominguez - W, Estudiantes
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Outstanding off-ball scorer; gets hot in a hurry and has gravity off screens that can open up teammates; solid frame and really competitive; nice size at 6'6" and doesn't play small; was really good for Spain in the FIBA U-19 games this summer, rising his draft stock; solid touch at the rim; translates competitive nature into strong on-ball defense; closest thing to a movement 3-and-D prospect we have in this class; would lock him into a draft-and-stash second if the shooting continues to stay at a high level.
Hyunjung Lee - W, Davidson
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Best shooter in college basketball this year; personally love these guys as late-roster fillers; Lee will struggle on D but is solid sized and competitive; great movement shooter with deep range; effortless stroke, albeit a tad slower than most specialists; lots of obstacles to overcome to be drafted but has a clear, translatable niche.
Isaiah Mobley - P, USC
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Mobley is the older brother of 2021 3rd overall pick Evan; showed flashes of positive play at USC and in G-League combine; want to see how he does as the main big man with the Trojans; played slightly out of position as a combo 4/5 in two-big frontcourt each of the last two years; will be older than other draft picks so wouldn't be shocked if he goes undrafted and is priority 2-Way signing; more roll than off the bounce in comparison to brother; do think there's legitimate stretch 5 potential.
Gui Santos - F, Novo Basquette
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Will turn 20 right before draft night; originally declared in 2021 before withdrawing; versatile and skilled forward at 6'8" who functions as a Juancho Hernangomez-like 3 or 4; shot the ball well from 3 last year (35.7%) and has great touch and feel; highly-skilled passer; long arms and prototypical 7'0" wingspan gives him a ton of intrigue; really like his modern game as a potential early-2nd round sleeper.
Pavel Savkov - W, Baskonia
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Efficient sniper; 6'7" frame and shot over 40% from 3 on really high volume last year; will continue moving up to tougher leagues but the ideal shooting wing for NBA draft circles; gets shots up in a hurry and has ultimate confidence in his smooth jumper; great off movement and unique actions; has shown a little bit of shot-making and a super-unique floater when he puts it on the floor; definitely a draft-and-stash guy.
Earl Timberlake - ATH, Memphis
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Point forward type who will get lost in super-talented Memphis roster; not a very good shooter; best as a face-up slashing 4-man; plays with energy; multi-positional defender; great feel and IQ in transition; not a floor spacer right now and needs to be surrounded by them; there's a legit NBA player in here, but he's not good enough to warrant the catering to at the next level that his flaws mandate.
Boris Tisma - F, Sevilla
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Hasn't logged major minutes but has plenty of tools; shot it well in International competition though numbers are inconsistent in pro ball; really skilled with both hands; solid set shot from 3 for the lefty; big year for him -- has been on draft radars for years for his skill but hasn't separated himself in competition; like the theory of his skill package at 6'9".
Azuolas Tubelis - P, Arizona
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Skilled big man who is underrated athlete but isn't a great leaper; will play under the rim but be skilled on perimeter; want to see his 3-point game expand: comfortable w/ mid-range and takes treys, just hasn't made them; played really well for Lithuania in FIBA U19 competition; Tommy Lloyd's offense is perfect for him; underrated passer and handler; a flier I'd think is worth taking if he proves productive and stretches out to 3.
Luc van Slooten - F, Braunschweig
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Major improvement from 3-point range from 24 to 35.7%; long and toolsy with smooth stroke and offensive mindset; positive A:TO indicative of playmaking upside; plays a tad stiff off the bounce but his dribble pull-up is smooth; excellent at attacking poor closeouts; really high STL rate as a defender; if the flashes of playmaking become consistent he's a really fascinating offensive prospect.
Isaiah Wong - CG, Miami (FL)
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Bursty scoring guard; should get plenty of opportunity against good competition in ACC; underrated facilitator -- watching to see if he can play the 1 at the next level at all; big year shooting wise to frame perception of him as off-ball prospect; fiery defender on-ball with good instincts off-ball; small for a 2 but could be a Jordan Clarkson-esque sleeper.
Solid 2nd Round Talents
Players in this tier: 9
Carlos Alocen - PG, Real Madrid
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Very high-IQ point guard with tremendous passing ability; makes expert reads out of the PNR; such a tight handle of the ball; good size allows him to see the floor; great in transition and open floor; needs to shoot it competently but has all the makings of a bigger Ricky Rubio type; defends with some energy and is very smart as a helper; will be a very good pro.
Marcus Bagley - W, Arizona State
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Rocky freshman season likely held down his value, causing him to return; will see more consistent offensive looks without Remy Martin or Josh Christopher in Tempe; streaky shooter; legitimate 6'8" who can guard the 3 or small 4s; upside shooting is seen on movement -- if he can drill shots off screens, instantly raises his value; shot selection and efficiency to big tests, as well as how he buys into playing defense.
Malcolm Cazalon - CG, Mega Bemax
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Big 6'6" combo; shot 38.6% this year for Mega in 34 games; has enough passing chops to be a lead guard and make that transition; great end-to-end speed as a wing-sprinter or handler; strong defensive candidate due to frame, quickness and intensity; not a great finisher or separator 1v1, which limits upside on-ball; overall a smooth game that should get him drafted.
Kofi Cockburn - P, Illinois
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Cockburn is who he is: a massive rim protecting big; should only play in Drop coverage; great finisher off the roll; good lob threat for PNR guards; doesn't have much touch or skill to his game outside of 8ft. on either end; inefficient post-up threat; surprised he came back to school after successful season and a fairly defined skill set; improvement at charity stripe will help him.
Tyson Etienne - PG, Wichita State
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: This year's Tre Mann: easy to fall in love with the highlights and overlook the concerns; great shooter from deep range; effective both off bounce and spot-up; solid passer in the lane; poor point of attack defender right now; poor finisher with little burst; lacks floater game to compensate; rare skill set to monitor that makes him draftable, but lots of flaws to work through.
Kerr Kriisa - CG, Arizona
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Vastly underrated shooter; creates his own and drills spot-up looks; highly competitive; can create with ball in his hands; maybe a tad small for off-ball role at 6'3" but isn't a pure point; very good rebounder for his size; think he'll make a large impact in Pac-12 as a starter and is perfect next to "point wing" Dalen Terry -- that off-ball ability at the point would pair well with NBA frontcourt creators.
EJ Liddell - ATH, Ohio State
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Bowling ball of a 4-man at 6'7" 240 lbs; can see him being a small-ball 5 or a bruising 4; lots of work to be done on tightening up his perimeter game; shot 34% from 3 and has to improve that number; underrated passer who has a great feel; one of the quickest lateral defenders I've seen at his size; competitive and unorthodox, the classic "tweener" vs. "multi-positional" debate.
Scotty Pippen Jr. - PG, Vanderbilt
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Score-first PG who put up prolific season at Vandy, scoring over 20 PPG; contact-magnet with great frame; not a shifty or bursty athlete; reliant on contact and playing angles in PNR to get penetration; a little too score-first instead of being balanced as a playmaker; good frame but worried about him guarding point of attack.
Mark Williams - P, Duke
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Super productive rebounder and finisher; came on super strong at the end of the year before COVID shut down Duke; not an elite rim protector but active enough to make plays happen; really fast end-to-end; lunch pale guy on the glass - effective rebounder; all the tools to work with as a modern big as an interior guy but role gives a ceiling to his draft stock in the late part of the 1st round.
Fringe 1st Rounders
40. Gabriele Procida - W, Cantu
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Great shooter who stroked 38.8% from 3 last year; best as a simple catch-and-shoot threat but does have some movement upside; will barely turn 20 in time for the 2022 NBA Draft; good size at 6'8"; lives in transition and is more athletic than most Euro specialty or high-volume shooters; plays well above the rim; want to see his body fill out but his athletic profile is exactly what teams want in a wing.
39. Chance Moore - W, Arkansas
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Next shooting wing in long line of successful ones at Arkansas; potential one-and-done within fast-paced Musselman system; plays a smooth style but isn't a great athlete; a tad smaller than Moses Moody; very nice stroke; think he might struggle to separate off the bounce; thin frame but competitive and long; want to see him before pushing him into 1st discussion but is knocking on that door.
38. Mike Miles - CG, TCU
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Really good 3-point shooting combo; played well in FIBA U19 games, showing more PG traits than at TCU; young for his class, which helps him based on his experience; good passer and solid floater game; undersized to play the 2 full-time so advancement of lead-guard traits vital; solid but unspectacular defender; has to shoot it insane on high volume to move into the first on consensus boards.
37. Ron Harper Jr. - ATH, Rutgers
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Super strong body who can guard 2 thru 4 but is best as a smaller 4; NBA game trending in direction of him being useful; streaky shooter who needs to find consistency; physical finisher that has some shake to create his own; likely not a first-round guy but has NBA pedigree and physical tools; if the shooting doesn't come along, borderline UDFA guy... it's a necessity in his return to school.
36. Bryce Hopkins - ATH, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Undersized 6'5" forward; mismatch creator who knows how to exploit them in his behalf; might feel a little caged at Kentucky within the clearly-defined Calipari offense; really physical for a freshman, which will fare well in the SEC; love the long wingspan and think he'll be the perfect NBA 4-man; may not get the reps of have shooting polish to be a one-and-done but has a lot to like for the league in his game -- super high on him long-term.
35.MarJon Beauchamp - W, G-League Ignite
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: All the raw tools: 6'7" with long arms, great athleticism and really strong scoring burst; easy to see him getting lost next to other elite talent with the Ignite and in G-League talent pool as he still needs to add strength; has shown flashes of really impressive help defensive capability; 3-point shooting holds up on volume and off movement; can see him having a highly productive career as a scorer and, if he plays well with Ignite, moving up into first round. Nick Young in the making.
34. Matthew Mayer - W, Baylor
Age on draft night: 22
Skimming Thoughts: Was trendy late-1st name in '21 before returning; efficient in off-ball role; has some creating chops; good scorer from 3 and at rim; really good attacking closeouts; competitive defender at the 3; curious to see if impact holds up w/ larger role at Baylor; might be a tad old to sneak into the 1st without showing high offensive upside.
33. Jabari Walker - F, Colorado
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Make-or-break sophomore year in terms of shooting potential; very versatile defender on 4s and stiffer 3s; not a freak athlete but good laterally; plays really hard; had a breakout game vs. Georgetown in NCAA Tourney; high motor but low-usage player at his ceiling; glue guy mantra limits his ceiling but is strong enough defender to be a late 1st or early 2nd round pick.
32. Jean Montero - CG, Overtime Elite
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Undersized off-ball guard at 6'2"; shifty and creates space for his own step-backs and deep shots; ultimate confidence as a scorer and wants to be a bucket-getter instead of facilitator right now; release is a tad low as a shooter but makes them in bunches; skilled PNR creator with good change of pace; think he over-dribbles and will have turnover concerns against high-level defenses; OTE schedule and process will be fascinating to unfold but Montero is talented like a first-rounder.
31. Ibou Badji - P, FC Barcelona
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Energy big man with high defensive upside; good athlete in open floor; glimpses of good touch; Clint Capela-type who can be switchable; think he's a first-round talent despite being raw; want to see how he plays now that he's moved up a league, but has all the tools of a first round big; draft class a bit thin on quality bigs so think Badji can sneak into the first round.
30. Max Christie - W, Michigan State
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Long, lean wing in process of bulking up for Big Ten and pro competition; can play above-the-rim and expect him to pop in transition; smooth shooter who makes shots in bunches; NBA role will be as an athletic 3-and-D guy at minimum; wingspan and ball handling always sought-after raw traits; young enough to come in with upside; guys who come out of Michigan State always are ahead defensively out of the gate; good upside.
Late-1st Grades
29. Caleb Love - PG, North Carolina
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Love struggled as a FY but could improve w/ spacing; high shooting ceiling despite fact he didn't make many; good size for a PG; shooting not the only thing to improve: was horrid finisher at rim; spacing concerns at UNC hurt him; more of a pro-game than college one; had a few encouraging games worth holding out hope for at this juncture.
28. Kendall Brown - W, Baylor
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Pogo stick wing who can jump out of the gym; good quick moves from the perimeter will allow him to get open quickly -- needs to become a little more fluid with the ball in his hands; won't turn 19 until a month before the draft; much more a slasher in the half-court than a shooter as the form needs lots of work; best trait is his versatile and engaged defense; should be a terror in passing lanes or switching scheme; real potential to climb close to the lottery if he functions well on offense.
27. Mario Nakic - W, Filou Oostende
Age on draft night: 21
Skimming Thoughts: Good size at 6'8" for a playmaking wing; rapidly improving shooter who went 18-35 from deep last season; high on turnovers right now but passing ability is very real and enticing as a point wing; super fundamentally sound and won't blow anybody away with quick-twitch athleticism; crafty scorer who can mismatch post smaller guys; wonder if there's more versatility than just being an offensively-skilled wing.
26. Jordan Hall - ATH, St. Joseph's
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Prolific passer but is half-step slower than most; high feel prospect w/ great IQ; doesn't score it on high volume; reminds more of a Kyle Anderson or DeAndre' Bembry type of slow-mo wing; not sure he's quick enough to be a real point guard; shooting must improve and is swing skill for him.
25. Daimion Collins - ATH, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Absolute freak athlete who might be the best leaper we've had in 3 or 4 years; thin frame that can develop to add weight; a tad undersized for the 5 but best utilized as a roller; would be exceptional in an up-tempo scheme; very little perimeter skill or feel for the game at this moment; ton of development ahead of him but the freak athletic tools are there; if he becomes a strong rim protector/ shot blocker he's got massive upside.
24. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield - ATH, Tennessee
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Originally a '22 from HS who reclassed to come to Knoxville; high-character kid with extremely high ceiling; versatile forward-type who can be an undersized roller who is physically strong enough to handle the role; looks like he has a workable jump shot in spot-up situations to play off-ball; physical profile is ideal for NBA teams to draft and develop on their own; barring a disaster season or inability to play on the perimeter, think he'll be a first-round guy.
23. Jaden Ivey - PG, Purdue
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Really good athlete with poor and unreliable jump shot; mechanics improving but still lag behind; phenomenal in transition; has ability to play above the rim or bully guys on the ground; stands out defensively with his NBA-ready frame and athleticism; tall at 6'4" for a point guard; has all the physical gifts to be a lottery guy but the lack of a jumper for a point guard is always a negative for me.
22. Tristan Vukcevic - P, Real Madrid
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Slightly undersized big man standing a shade over 6'9"; tremendously skilled as either a face-up or back-to-basket big; great touch as a passer and underrated facilitator; really quick in straight lines or laterally to attack guys off the bounce; shot it well from 3 on a limited sample size last year but the form is projectable; plays like a wing on offense when you spot him up on the perimeter; already fairly polished with verticality and can be a solid rim protector; really long arms can make him a 5 but desperately needs to add bulk to his frame.
21. Jabari Smith - F, Auburn
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: NBA-caliber athlete who has potential to be an elite defender; good amount of skill and long arms at 6'10" to be a really good two-way player; jumper is a tad hitchy but has a good deal of upside; fantastic shot blocker on-ball or from weak side; dad played in NBA if pedigree matters to you; broad shoulders and dad's build indicate ability to add weight to his frame; worry about polish of his handle which is why he starts the season outside the top-20 as a face-up attacker; really high ceiling if he can find another gear explosively and consistently create from the perimeter.
20. Kennedy Chandler - PG, Tennessee
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Smaller point guard who is heavily reliant on skill and shot-making for positive impact; doesn't lack confidence but backs it up; high-volume PNR guard who risks getting miscast at Tennessee; coming off a solid summer with the U.S. U-19 World Champions team; not a great amount of lift on his jump shot but can get vertical with a runway attacking the rim; really quick burst when attacking off the bounce and getting downhill; smooth shot from deep with good range and self-creation; high-volume offensive hub who needs to shoot it well enough to offset size concerns; winning mentality and pedigree will attract some team in the first-round to gambling on him.
19. Michael Foster - F, G-League Ignite
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Good interior presence at 6'9" who is working on stretching his range; strong body and plays a physical brand of basketball; starting to add off-the-dribble creation; has elite rebound-and-run potential and good speed to pair with it; love that he's with Ignite to tailor-make him into a modern 4-man for the NBA; has real lottery potential if the jumper is solid and he has enough volume to put an impact on the game for the Ignite.
18. JD Davison - PG, Alabama
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Young point guard brimming with athletic talent in a multi-guard, spread-the-floor system at Alabama; elite vertical athletic upside and a great deal of impact on the defensive end; jumper has made great strides over the last few years -- playing for a coach who emphasizes the 3-pointer and helps guys develop their jumper; a super fun player when he plays with energy in the open floor or aggression on defense; young enough for NBA teams in the 1st round to value his natural gifts and keep working on adding the teachables on offense.
17. Nolan Hickman - CG, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Fairly young -- won't turn 19 until May; shifty creator off the bounce who has a flashy play-style; think he'll pop in Gonzaga system as a transition playmaker; best as a long and wiry PNR creator who has size advantage to see over the top of the PNR; plays his balls off on defense and should be able to guard the 1 or 2; shooting comes and goes but if it's on he's an ideal guard who can slide into either spot; love his competitiveness and expect him to be unsung hero at Gonzaga this year.
Late Lottery Prospects
16. AJ Griffin - ATH, Duke
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Great transition athlete with already impressive physique; very slow and almost two-handed release on his jumper but the face-up space creation is there: pairing a jumper with it would unlock his offensive potential; tremendous footwork already; high defensive ceiling due to his athleticism, length and ability to play multiple positions; curious to see how his spot-up game looks when he plays off-ball at Duke; think he's overrated athletically in the half-court in terms of getting to the rim; hard to project where he's at after senior year cancelled due to COVID -- makes for a really difficult eval heading into the season.
15. Roko Prkacin - W, Cibona
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Do-it-all scoring wing who is really good mismatch piece inside and out; shot it very well last season from 3, which was a big step forward for him; surprised he didn't stay in 2021 Draft since potential for stock to cool if shooting doesn't stay high; great patient post arsenal when he has size mismatch; underrated PNR creator with ball in his hands; competitive defensively and has excellent length; wide range of outcomes but optimistic about him being a borderline-lotto guy.
14. Matt Cleveland - W, Florida State
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Slashing wing who is great in open floor and when he can get downhill in half-court; great length for a 6'6" wing and solid ball skills and passing; jumper hasn't come along yet but hasn't needed it to be a two-way factor; good finisher at the rim who uses both hands well; potential to be a lock-down defender and will benefit greatly from the FSU switching scheme; how he scores it in the half-court will dictate his draft ceiling but think he does enough to knock on lottery range.
13. Bennedict Mathurin - W, Arizona
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Will turn 20 right around draft day; really good shooter who got hot at the right times for Canada in FIBA U-19 games; good physical profile with length and solid frame to handle contact; got to the line a lot with Canada and more than 3 times a game at Arizona as a freshman; showed some defensive chops and toughness to be the quintessential 3-and-D prospect; has more off-the-bounce upside than most guys with that mantle, making him a top-15 guy.
12. Dyson Daniels - CG, G-League Ignite
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Slimy long-armed athlete who can play with the ball in his hands; considers himself a point guard but his defensive profile is more that of a 2 or 3; very unorthodox form near the basket but has soft touch to score it; pretty effortless self-creation skills with tough ones like step-backs and side-steps; seems to float in the air when he jumps -- isn't a forceful leaper but has hops; solid passer but unspectacular; shows some smart defensive instincts but wouldn't classify him as a consistently strong defender yet.
11. TyTy Washington - CG, Kentucky
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Elite shooting prospect on the move or in spot-up situations; range is incredibly deep and show is mesmerizingly smooth; turned himself into a really good shooter off the dribble; will fit seamlessly into Kentucky offense in the combo role, following footsteps of others who have popped in the NBA; isn't the best leaper but has a frame that can withstand contact; elite touch with his right hand; think he can be a mundane defender with work; value of his elite skill makes him a lottery guy to know.
The Top Tiers: 10-6
10. Ousmane Dieng - ATH, NZ Breakers
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Incredibly fluid athlete at 6'10" who is most positionless guy in this top-tier of talent; quick stroke with some high-level shot-making to his name; really good ball handler for his size which makes him play like a primary wing on offense; really creative with the rock; shot projects really well despite but having elite percentages; has elite deceleration, a great trait for go-to scorers to gain; length and athletic potential should make him a multi-positional defender whose wingspan bothers others; potential to climb close to the top-5.
9. Caleb Houstan - W, Michigan
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Unbelievably confident wing shooter who lets it fly deep behind the 3-point line; really good length offsets the slightly slow nature of his shot; started to show some glimpses of creation off-the-bounce for others to aid his game if he's run off the line; in desperate need of additional strength to his frame; stands out as an elite help defender who will gain greater understanding on that end at Michigan; length means he can guard 2s or 3s and, if he adds bulk, smaller 4s; more a complimentary piece but an offensively and defensively balanced and high-level piece.
8. Peyton Watson - W, UCLA
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Super confident scoring wing who joins a win-now situation with the Bruins; tremendous leaper who could be best over-the-rim athlete in this class; very fluid perimeter game that has developed him into a potential offensive hub; shooting mechanics could use some tweaking on his lower half: knees and feet close together, which limits speed attacking from a shot fake; gets end to end in a hurry and is competent as a handler; long arms and really thin but oozes potential; wouldn't be surprised if he winds up higher than this.
7. Jalen Duren - P, Memphis
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Massive big with broad shoulders and good frame; mostly a finisher who can be powerful off the catch or solid off the bounce; really good rebounder; not a great above-the-rim athlete but is polished with his footwork; fell in love with the mid-range in a way that rubs me the wrong way; potential to be a very good rim protector (his best NBA trait); pretty much all right hand or dunks on the interior; think he has a long way to go to get pro-ready but there is clear anchor potential to his game.
6. Yannick Nzosa - ATH, Unicaja
Age on draft night: 18
Skimming Thoughts: Another well-polished and NBA-ready defensive big from Spain; super young so has a bit of defensive prodigy to him, like Garuba; tall and fluid at 6'10" to be a rim anchor in Drop Coverage or switch and guard on the perimeter; still very thin and has to add strength but won't turn 19 until Thanksgiving of his rookie year; doesn't project as a stretch big at all but is an efficient finisher off the roll in space; most interesting offensive flashes are off the bounce in attacking closeouts or on keepers; might function as more than just a post because of the frequency that he handled in the PNR last year with Unicaja; super fascinating prospect with elite flashes defensively and an offensive profile worth investing in for a team that can give him time.
5. Nikola Jovic - F, Mega Bemax
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Fantastic creator with the ball in his hands; growing confidence with his off-the-dribble jumper vaulting him from late-first rounder to a legitimate top-ten pick; long and lean primary option gaining a little more burst off the bounce; elite passer in all facets but is dangerous in open floor as rebound-and-run threat; young for the class: turns 19 in early-June; some defensive upside not just with his length but instincts as a help defender; continuing his athletic development so he can defend multiple spots and let his skill level pop in the NBA.
4. Patrick Baldwin Jr - ATH, Milwaukee
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Elite shooting and size make him a high-ceiling offensive project; good movement shooter, spot-up threat or off-the-bounce self-creator; can play the 2 thru 4 on both ends; good pedigree as son of a coach (dad is his coach at Milwaukee); has a lot of Michael Porter Jr. to him as a scorer; really an elite off-ball prospect due to his size and movement prowess; good athlete who isn't dependent on the trey ball for points; body improvements over last year have been encouraging; at his size (6'10") he could be a solid mismatch in the pinch post; not a poor defender but lateral quickness isn't his greatest strength; overall such a smooth game and a natural scorer.
3. Chet Holmgren - P, Gonzaga
Age on draft night: 20
Skimming Thoughts: Super skinny but unbelievably tall defensive anchor; polished on that end of the floor with great instincts; super competitive shot blocker who tries to get his hands on everything; really good handler as a face-up guy who can drive past other bigs and out-craft them to the hoop; shot looks projectable long-term to the point where his offensive profile is that of a spot-up 5-man; plays hard on every possession; with his tall and skinny frame he will always have worries about durability -- exacerbated by his willingness to seek contact and go all out every time; plays like a point center at times and is unlike any prospect we've had before; love the skill and upside but do have worries about long-term durability to the point where I'd give the nod to two others guys who I see as stars on the same tier talent-wise.
2. Paolo Banchero - F, Duke
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Throwback inside-outside power forward who doesn't have a natural position to guard; elite character guy who can have a franchise built around him from a dependability standpoint; unbelievably smooth feel for the game to go with a rugged, thick and NBA-ready body; adding a jump shot has benefitted him thus far and will be the big watch in his year at Duke; the classic "tweener" or "Multi-positional" player who might be big for some 4s and not enough of a rim protector to be a 5; added self-creation makes him an impossible-to-stop guy 1v1 due to his physical frame; up to 6'11' now and could keep growing to make him a cheat code 5-man; definite alpha and franchise game-changer.
1. Jaden Hardy - CG, G-League Ignite
Age on draft night: 19
Skimming Thoughts: Elite shot creator who scores with polish and finesse on all three levels; makes DEEP range pull-ups and step-backs over contests; phenomenal athlete with a tremendous frame; most confident guy in this class offensively: carries himself like Jalen Green or Anthony Edwards; can be an absolute deadeye when he gets it going, even with shots that have an insane degree of difficulty; manipulates the defense with his eyes; plays at great pace and can contort himself to slip through in traffic; frame and athletic profile should lead him to be a good defender at the 2 with potential to stop the 1 and 3; always defer to talented scoring guards to be the top guy since what they provide is so valuable late-game and in playoffs; top spot his to lose.